If I were inclined to conspiracy theories, I might assume that the idea of impeaching Pashinyan was floated by… Pashinyan himself. It’s a centuries-old strategy — tried and tested both in the West and, especially, in the East. “I will pretend that my departure is, at least in theory, possible — and observe how my courtiers react.” Those who flinched or hesitated were swiftly executed. History offers dozens of examples of monarchs using this simple trick to test their courtiers’ loyalty.
Addressing Civil Contract (CP) deputies with a call to impeach Pashinyan is like appealing to a sultan’s viziers to depose their monarch. Naturally, the courtiers must respond with loud declarations of loyalty. Thankfully, today’s world is more “humane”: CP members who fail to swear allegiance — or do so without enough theatrical flair — won’t be literally beheaded. But they may still find themselves pursued by figures like Anna Vardapetyan, as happened with Hovik Aghazaryan.
I already know the counterargument the authorities will offer: “Pashinyan is not a sultan; he was elected through free and fair elections.” Well, in countries like ours, I have serious doubts about what counts as “free and fair.” It’s not just about how elections are conducted — or even who counts the votes (as Stalin cynically noted) — but whether the results are approved by the relevant powers. The 2018 and 2021 elections in Armenia were “approved” by both the West and by Putin. In contrast, last year’s Georgian parliamentary elections — arguably no less democratic — were not approved by the West. I don’t think I need to explain in great detail why such things happen.
But that’s beside the point. Let’s assume for a moment that Richard Nixon really was elected president of the United States in 1969 and re-elected in 1973 through entirely free and fair elections. Even so, in 1974 he was forced to resign because of the Watergate scandal. Had he refused, he likely would have been impeached — and not just by Democrats, but by his fellow Republicans as well.
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Why? Because U.S. senators and congresspeople are first and foremost accountable to their voters. In contrast, CP deputies in Armenia are accountable only to one man: Pashinyan. They will not return to Parliament unless he personally includes them on the electoral list. And they will remain deputies today only as long as he allows it.
That is what we should be thinking about.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
